Indy Line Goes To Gay Marriage ‘No’ Voter

Remember when state Independence Party Chairman Frank MacKay told me he’s personally supportive of legalizing same-sex marriage, but won’t make the issue a litmus test for candidates who seek Row E?

Well, if you needed proof of that, look no further than the endorsement by the Dutchess County Independence Party of Assemblyman Marc Molinaro, a Republican candidate for Dutchess County executive.

Molinaro voted “no” on same-sex marriage when it last came up for a vote in the Democrat-controlled Assembly along with the majority of his GOP colleagues.

(It should be noted here that the handful of Republicans who did vote “yes” were not subsequently defeated at the ballot box, as was predicted, with the exception of former Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava, whose vote was cited by the Tea Partiers as a reason to back the Conservative candidate, Doug Hoffman. But her loss in the three-way NY-23 special election was a special case).

Now, I know some of you are going to suggest I’m comparing apples and oranges here since this is a local race with an endorsement determination controlled by local Indy leaders.

Two things: 1) MacKay told me flat out that endorsements going forward would continue to be informed, if not outright controlled, by local party officials, although he does wield considerable sway over the executive committee and its support of state legislative candidates. The party has a traditional of backing both Democrats and Republicans.

2) The Conservatives have made it clear they’ll back no candidate – no matter what office that candidate is seeking – who “does not support marriage as defined between one man and one woman”.

So, I expect the gay marriage question will be a litmus test going forward for candidates at all levels of government, thanks to the recent resolution adopted by the Conservative Party’s executive committee.

Incidentally, Molinaro has also been endorsed by the Conservatives and now will have three lines in the November general election. He’s facing Democrat Dan French, who is seeking the WFP endorsement, too.